If punters thought Accidental Offside's win at Gore last month was good, his jockey reckons you ain't seen nothing yet.
Rebecca Black guided the Ellis Winsloe-trained 3yr-old to victory on debut on November 19, but she was amazed how easily he won the 1200m maiden on raw ability.
"The horse never even got to a full gallop because he was too worried where the rest of the field had got to,'' Black said in the lead-up to the gelding's race at the Southland Racing Club's Christmas meeting at Winton tomorrow.
"The only reason I was slapping him down the neck was because he was going to turn around and go back to them. He's big and green.''
"He hasn't hit top speed and I only asked him to lengthen stride, really.''
Tomorrow's rating 65 1200m (race 5) will further Accidental Offside's education after he was surrounded by other rookie gallopers at Gore.
"Hopefully, he did learn a lot. He's a beautiful horse - I don't know how to rate him because I haven't felt him gallop [fully] yet. How often does that happen?''
The draw of 14 - possibly 13 after scratchings - might not be the worst thing as he was wide at Gore.
"He's green, so I'll get him covered up so he can keep learning and doing things right,'' she said.
Black is happy with her book of five rides, but had no hesitation in putting Accidental Offside on top of her list.
"For a young horse to go out and win effortlessly [at Gore], you've just got to rate him.''
Black also rides Accidental Offside's 5yr-old full brother, Irish Excuse, tomorrow in the 2000m open handicap.
The son of No Excuse Needed is a past winner at Winton and the track might suit him more than Cromwell, where he finished 11th.
"I had runners come around me at the 1000 and Ellis stressed to me don't go before the 600m,'' she said.
"I don't think he liked that track all the same. He didn't let down at all.''
Several horses are dropping back 1200m in distance from the 3200m New Zealand Cup, although Our Bee Jay looks like an early pacemaker after stepping up from 1400m in New Zealand Cup week.
"Hopefully, they [the leaders] can come off the fence and I can get up the fence with them and have a good crack at it.''
Lady Platinum can kick on from her last-start third at Gore, provided she is in the right mood.
"She's another lazy horse who will pull up and trot if you let it in the race,'' Black said.
"She's one of my hardest rides. I've got to go running just to keep fit for her, because you're punching it from the barrier to the finish line.''
Roman Goddess, who Black also trains, is in a strong maiden.
Black would be pleased to see the mare running on.
She has teamed up with Joe Bonanno (race 9) in track work in recent weeks.
"He's a very sharp horse and he's working the house down. I've just got to keep him focused on keeping his brain together in the [barriers] and keeping him right.''
